Musicals by John Farndon
In Love and War
Book and lyrics by John Farndon, Music by Marc Folan and John Farndon
“Oh yes, I have my pride!”
‘…In Love & War’ is a powerful original musical in which love and betrayal in wartime France lead to the heart of a modern political scandal. It is set partly in Occupied France in 1944 and partly in the 1980s, when Mitterand’s Socialists came to power after long years of Gaullist rule.
At the centre of the story is socialist politician Henri Dumas, whose iron-willed determination to fight for his ideals blinds him to the effects of his actions around him – with tragic consequences.
As France undergoes the ordeal of Nazi occupation — when no-one is certain who is collaborating and who is not – Henri and Blanche de Laurette fall in love working together for the French Resistance. But while Henri is out on a mission of sabotage, Blanche is faced with an agonizing decision — and makes a sacrifice which will blight both their lives, and come back to haunt them long after.
Almost 40 years later, when Henri has risen to become a defence minister in Mitterand’s government, he concieves a fatal passion for a young woman, only to become devastatingly engulfed by a cash-for-contracts scandal.
As the media and the public round on their one time hero, Henri learns to his horror at last about Blanche’s secret.
Audio (allow time for files to download)